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Exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of Du Noon

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are of major public health concern in South Africa. STIs contribute largely to the burden of disease in South Africa and are recognized as major contributors to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic. Du Noon is a small township situated...

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Main Author: Dookhith, Azhaar Bibi Faatimah
Other Authors: Abdul-Aziez, Isaacs
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Public Health and Family Medicine 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author Dookhith, Azhaar Bibi Faatimah
author2 Abdul-Aziez, Isaacs
author_browse Abdul-Aziez, Isaacs
Dookhith, Azhaar Bibi Faatimah
author_facet Abdul-Aziez, Isaacs
Dookhith, Azhaar Bibi Faatimah
author_sort Dookhith, Azhaar Bibi Faatimah
collection Thesis
description Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are of major public health concern in South Africa. STIs contribute largely to the burden of disease in South Africa and are recognized as major contributors to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic. Du Noon is a small township situated in Milnerton, Cape Town, South Africa. Du Noon CHC has a large HIV population of approximately 8000 people and recent data obtained from Du Noon CHC statistics, from Nov 2019-Feb 2020 showed 1760 people being treated for STI as per the headcount. Aim: This study intends to explore the factors which may be responsible for the high prevalence of STI among the population of Du Noon Township in Cape Town, South Africa. Methodology: A cross- sectional study with 40 respondents aged between 18 and 45 years was conducted. One-on-one patient interviews using open-ended questions, as well as structured questionnaires, were used to gather data. The questionnaires were analysed using the Likert Scale and open-ended questions were analysed using exploratory descriptive methods. Results: Cultural beliefs, having multiple partners, lack of partner notification, alcohol consumption and lack of condom usage were found to be the main contributing factors to the high incidence of STIs. Sex education at schools appear to be lacking or not in sufficient detail to inform students. The study's findings echoed themes and larger ideas from previous research. It reflects the other well-known cultural and socioeconomic issues confronting South African rural communities e.g., poverty and sex, age -disparate relationships, polygamous relationships. Conclusion: This study fills a gap in the local literature by highlighting how health education challenges, interpersonal relationships, and socioeconomic barriers are still important factors in STI transmission. Although the study's findings may only be applicable to this community, they may have an impact on other communities with comparable populations. The widespread preliminary understanding and framing of HIV as a STI and how it is transmitted needs further investigations and research. As a result, there is an urgent need to shift cultural ideology and norms within the youth of the Du Noon community.
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license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
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publisherStr Department of Public Health and Family Medicine
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/36439 Exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of Du Noon Dookhith, Azhaar Bibi Faatimah Abdul-Aziez, Isaacs Razack, Adil public health Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are of major public health concern in South Africa. STIs contribute largely to the burden of disease in South Africa and are recognized as major contributors to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic. Du Noon is a small township situated in Milnerton, Cape Town, South Africa. Du Noon CHC has a large HIV population of approximately 8000 people and recent data obtained from Du Noon CHC statistics, from Nov 2019-Feb 2020 showed 1760 people being treated for STI as per the headcount. Aim: This study intends to explore the factors which may be responsible for the high prevalence of STI among the population of Du Noon Township in Cape Town, South Africa. Methodology: A cross- sectional study with 40 respondents aged between 18 and 45 years was conducted. One-on-one patient interviews using open-ended questions, as well as structured questionnaires, were used to gather data. The questionnaires were analysed using the Likert Scale and open-ended questions were analysed using exploratory descriptive methods. Results: Cultural beliefs, having multiple partners, lack of partner notification, alcohol consumption and lack of condom usage were found to be the main contributing factors to the high incidence of STIs. Sex education at schools appear to be lacking or not in sufficient detail to inform students. The study's findings echoed themes and larger ideas from previous research. It reflects the other well-known cultural and socioeconomic issues confronting South African rural communities e.g., poverty and sex, age -disparate relationships, polygamous relationships. Conclusion: This study fills a gap in the local literature by highlighting how health education challenges, interpersonal relationships, and socioeconomic barriers are still important factors in STI transmission. Although the study's findings may only be applicable to this community, they may have an impact on other communities with comparable populations. The widespread preliminary understanding and framing of HIV as a STI and how it is transmitted needs further investigations and research. As a result, there is an urgent need to shift cultural ideology and norms within the youth of the Du Noon community. 2022-05-30T13:20:18Z 2022-05-30T13:20:18Z 2022 2022-05-30T13:19:55Z Master Thesis Masters MMed http://hdl.handle.net/11427/36439 eng application/pdf Department of Public Health and Family Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences
spellingShingle public health
Dookhith, Azhaar Bibi Faatimah
Exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of Du Noon
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of Du Noon
title_full Exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of Du Noon
title_fullStr Exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of Du Noon
title_full_unstemmed Exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of Du Noon
title_short Exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of Du Noon
title_sort exploring factors causing the high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the township of du noon
topic public health
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/36439
work_keys_str_mv AT dookhithazhaarbibifaatimah exploringfactorscausingthehighincidenceofsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinthetownshipofdunoon